Comparing Mccarthyism And The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Both “The Crucible” and McCarthyism are based on similar circumstances with people in high power who make accusations with no evidence to prove why a suspect should be punished for a certain crime, usually dealing with treason or a subversion crime. In addition, in the play called “The Crucible,” created by a well-known American author, Arthur Miller, is based on the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693, where people were tried and hung if found guilty of the crime of witchcraft. Besides “The Crucible”, the play was partially based on McCarthyism, in 1953, when Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin began a series of investigations and hearings about indiscriminate allegations towards the United States government to stop

For instance, in Salem, Massachusetts, high religious groups thought of witchcraft as the devil's work or ungodly work. High authorities, like Hathorne, Danforth, Hale, and Parris believed one should be punished for doing harsh and unpermitted work from the justice work of god, so they believe they are chosen by God to do the punishments on Earth. Even though they may not have actual proof of witchcraft, they will let people go free, like Abigail and Betty, otherwise one must prove that they have seen the devil and insisted on getting help from authorities. For example, Betty and Abigail glorified as they admitted, “Abigail: “I want to open myself! I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” Betty: “I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil.” Abigail: “I saw Goody Sibber with the Devil!” Betty: “I saw Alice Barrow with the Devil!” “I saw Goody Bibber with the Devil!” Abigail: “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil!” “I saw Goody Booth with the Devil!”(48). After this, false admittance, this stirs the town

It brought hysteria and an increased amount of public attention, which McCarthy thrived on. McCarthy caused unlawful and unconstitutional action against the public, especially those who are suspected of being a communist. His attacks toward the government lead to the first televised hearings, which will soon make him lose all of his political power. Joseph McCarthy alleged the Army Signal Corps, about the espionage ring, but found no evidence whatsoever. When the trials began on April 22 through June 17, 1954, McCarthy established a chair so that the hearings could move forward, but with frequent disruptions from McCarthy or his “point of order” made him the subject of the courtroom. Afterward, he was called as a witness by Joseph Welch and was questioned. On his last attempt to stop McCarthy. Joseph Welch said live on television: "Senator, you won't need anything in the record when I finish telling you this. Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. .... Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" After that, the court came to a conclusion that there was not enough evidence of communism in the United States, which were finally